Sunday, February 19, 2012

Learning to Live Again: Translator's note

By Sumedha Raiker-Mhatre

It was a
rewarding experience to bring the Muktangan story in English, orginally written
in Marathi. Muktangan is a recognised de-addiction center which has done
pioneering work in the rehabilitation of drug and alcohol addicts.

It is a
path-breaking experiment that was initiated by Dr Sunanda and Anil Awachat 25
years ago in the city of Pune. While Dr Sunanda is no more, Muktangan continues
with its de-addiction experiments. This book is a tribute to the difficult
journey of a de-addiction center.

It details the
forces that pulled it apart at times; it also zeroes in on the positive energy
that stopped it from closing down. It is also an inspiring guidebook for any
rehabilitaiton center or grassroots organistion that thrives on community
participation.

It is a book,
written by none else but the founder of the institution, Anil Awachat, who
remains at the core of the activity to this day. His daughter Mukta Puntambekar
leads the organisation from the front.

Muktangan is a
brand in itself, ISO-certified, professionally run by doctors and community
workers alike. It is a formula that presupposes the co-operation of the addict
and the addict's family, thereby placing the human being at the center of the
five-week medical treatment.

The book mirrors an organisation that took on
the establishment. It is a record of a struggle against an apathetic state
government, the uncaring drug manufacturers, the pushy liquor lobby, the
indifferent social set up, the corrupt bureaucracy and the unresponsive funding
agencies.

Despite all the
travails and tribulations, the book is celebratory in spirit. It is a free
exchange of experiences that make or break rehabilitation set ups in India. In
a country where such rehab centers have a poor death rate, the Muktangan story
is uplifting. It underlines the power of one.

For an
organisation that started with a donation by Marathi litterateur P L Deshpande,
Muktangan has grown in all directions. It has diversified its energies in many
sectors, including Internet Deaddiction. It has 23 counseling centers in and
around Pune. There is a separate cell catering to women addicts.

But the translation of this book is not
rewarding just because of its popular success. In fact, Dr Awachat's Afterword
states that he is not proud of the achievements. “We do not boast of these
diversifications, as a corporate firm would have bragged about its rising
growth graph.”

Muktangan works
towards a drug-free society, which would necessitate the conversion of
Muktangan rehabilitation center into a cultural center. That is what makes the
book special. The experience of presenting it for a wider audience is therefore
even more exciting.

The mention of Dr Anil Awachat's co-operation in
the translation is imperative. He was available 24/7 during the translation
process, checking every page, every detail meticulously, No wonder the
translation got over in less than three months.